Canon’s New “Sandwich” Lens Design Patent Teases an Affordable RF 85mm f/1.2

[Canon Rumors]

Canon spends a lot of time trying to make lenses smaller and lighter, and most of us out there appreciate the effort. Canon has done a great job over the years shaving weight off of lenses as they evolve into new versions. “Sandwich” Lens Element One of Canon’s latest patent applications is geared toward weight […]

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[DhlcadR6]

Looking forward to have a cheap&small 85/f1.2... I guess it'll be marketed as something resembles to EF 85mm f1.2L

 

[Steve_FR]

Interesting! There is no RF 50mm f/1.4 lens from Canon though, unless you meant the RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM? But you said no L series lenses have PMO optics. Which lens were you referring to?

 

[Del Paso]

I do not find the use of resins shocking or disturbing. My little cheap RF 28mm f/2,8 is at least as sharp as my Leica M Asph 28mm f/2,8.
But I'm still waiting for more "L" cuties, like a 180mm macro, a 14mm TS, a 70-200 f/2 , a 35mm f/1,2 etc...
Yet, it's nice to offer affordable luminous lenses, which, despite or thanks to their residual aberrations, have a charm of their own.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I'm a long time user of a EF 85mm f1.2 II L. I love the look and teh files it turns in. However, my biggest issue with it is it's AF accuracy. This lens literally entered into a whole new world of ability and usefulness when I put it on my R8 / R6ii. Suddenly, I could explor the new world of eye detection AF and no longer use point and re-compose. Prevously I would use a single point AF then move the camera / lens so that my subject was now in focus. It was tedious, slow and required a fair amount of skill / patience. Now...the eye AF pretty much nails it every time and "oh....this is how sharp and contrasty this lens can be" is now my current rhetoric. In low like I still see a lot of focus errors, especially if the subject isn't posing but moving about a bit. The R6ii / R8's AF struggles tracking with this lens. HOWEVER...it's completely different on my R6iii. it's nailing fast moving people and I'm getting a higher keeper rate.

But, I would like to buy the current RF L version, it's sharper and it's AF is less taxing on the camera. I'm not sure this rumoured RF silver ring version would be much of an upgrade for me compared to my current EF version.

 

[Brown]

Interesting! There is no RF 50mm f/1.4 lens from Canon though, unless you meant the RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM? But you said no L series lenses have PMO optics. Which lens were you referring to?

The f/1.8

 

[Uneternal]

You mention there is a PMo element in the RF 50mm f/1.4. Is that a typo, cause underneath you said no L lenses use a PMo element?

 

[Canon Rumors]

Sorry.. typo. 1.8

 

[blackcoffee17]

My RF 28 2.8 is amazingly sharp and good optically, so i don't care if the lens elements are made from cheese.

 

[Skyfall]

My main hesitation with the current 85mm f2 is the af speed, so i rather have them make a smaller faster focusing 85mm f2 than slow focusing 85mm f1.2, but maby that is just me?

 

[muentzer]

We already have an 1.2/85 L USM, 1.2/85L USM DS, 1.4/85L VCM, and a 2.0/85 Macro IS STM. I don't think another 85' would make any sense.

 

[exkeks]

We already have an 1.2/85 L USM, 1.2/85L USM DS, 1.4/85L VCM, and a 2.0/85 Macro IS STM. I don't think another 85' would make any sense.

Same situation as with Canon's 50mm section: The might just call it a 80mm/1.2 STM and be there. Especially if you look at the real focal length in the cited patents.

 

[Tom R5R7]

Regarding the moulded resin lens element, I think that it's more than a marketing issue. I have the 45 f/1.2 and I also have the EF 50/1.2L. While the 45 is a fast, budget-friendly lens with pretty good sharpness, the old EF 50/1.2L does a better job with the smoothness of the bokeh as well as having better control (at least my copy of each does) of chromatic aberration and separation of colors in highlights outside of the plane of focus.

 

[neuroanatomist]

One of Canon's latest patent applications is geared toward weight and cost savings with a composite lens element design. The design is basically a “sandwich” with a glass element between two thinner resin elements bonded on each side.

This sounds closer to a replica aspherical element than a PMo aspherical element. PMo aspherical is all resin, replica aspherical is an aspherical resin bonded to a spherical glass element.

 

[Exploreshootshare]

I´d guess Canon would/ will release it as a RF 80mm F1.2 in order to differentiate between the expensive L version just like they did with the 45mm F1.2.
Imo, it's great Canon has these optics. I still want to thoroughly test the 45mm F1.2, but I hadn't had the chance yet.

 

[Steve_FR]

The f/1.8

I really like that little RF 50mm f/1.8 lens.

 

[muentzer]

Same situation as with Canon's 50mm section: The might just call it a 80mm/1.2 STM and be there. Especially if you look at the real focal length in the cited patents.

Not exactly. There are the 1.2/45 STM, the 1,2/50L USM, the 1.4/50 VCM and the 1.8/50 STM. That makes four lenses. And we already have four 85mm lenses. Another one would be the fifth I am all for new lenses, but how about an 1.2/35? 1.4/28? 1.8/105? ...

 

[dominic_siu]

I'm a long time user of a EF 85mm f1.2 II L. I love the look and teh files it turns in. However, my biggest issue with it is it's AF accuracy. This lens literally entered into a whole new world of ability and usefulness when I put it on my R8 / R6ii. Suddenly, I could explor the new world of eye detection AF and no longer use point and re-compose. Prevously I would use a single point AF then move the camera / lens so that my subject was now in focus. It was tedious, slow and required a fair amount of skill / patience. Now...the eye AF pretty much nails it every time and "oh....this is how sharp and contrasty this lens can be" is now my current rhetoric. In low like I still see a lot of focus errors, especially if the subject isn't posing but moving about a bit. The R6ii / R8's AF struggles tracking with this lens. HOWEVER...it's completely different on my R6iii. it's nailing fast moving people and I'm getting a higher keeper rate.

But, I would like to buy the current RF L version, it's sharper and it's AF is less taxing on the camera. I'm not sure this rumoured RF silver ring version would be much of an upgrade for me compared to my current EF version.

I’m using the RF 85 1.2, the results are fantastic, you must try it

 

[EricN]

This is our "never before seen" lens design to go with the 45 1.2?
Edit: "world's first"

 

[Robi Naitsirhc]

I have always chased edge-to-edge sharpness at maximum apertures in low light, so this kind of lens engineering could speak directly to me. If the result holds up it will be a massive move forward. In the end real shots will reveal what actually works.